about this. for the third straight day, funeral processions rolled through newtown, connecticut, after friday's massacre. police given no public intendcation of the motive of 20-year-old adam lanza clad in all black broke in sandy hook elementary school and opened fire on students and staff there killing 26 inside. a life-long resident said he may have snapped because his mother was planning to commit him to psychiatric facility. authorities have not confirmed that claim, yet. following the newtown shooting president obama reiterated he will use all of his powers, powers of his office, i should say, to prevent further tragedies saying today it shouldn't so easy for people to get their hands on assault weapons. shannon bream has the story. >> the fact that the problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing. >> the president's newly assembled team of the cabinet members and outside organizations have until january to come up with concrete proposals to end another tragedy like the deadly sandy hook elementary school shooting. >> is not some washington commission. this is

as most schools in newtown, connecticut, reopen today, one elementary school was kept closed because of some sort of threat. not sandy hook elementary but yet another school. a principal told parents to keep their kids home. tonight in newtown, families are holding wakes for several victims of last friday's shooting at sandy hook. today two more 6-year-olds were laid to rest. >>> not so long ago, national rifle association broke its silence regarding the newtown massacre. in a statement it released, it said the members were shocked and saddened and heartbroken by the news of the horrific and senseless murders. it also said they wanted to give the families time to mourn before speaking out. the nra pledges to make sure this never happens again and it is going to hold a news conference on friday. >>> dick's sporting goods stopped selling assault weapons and wal-mart pulled the bush master assault rifle, the gun used in newtown. other gun dealers are seeing a surge in sales. >> reporter: assault rifles are flying off the shelves here. more than three million americans own an ar-15, the

motive. it is clear friday's shooting in newtown, connecticut can have no rational explanation. the act itself is the definition of insanity. still at this hour, investigators are work to unravel the sequence of events that ended with a man killing his own mother, driving to an elementary school and murdering 26 innocent children and adults before committing suicide. right now it's all still a puzzle. but investigators are working to assemble it. law enforcement source tells the associated press teams are going through the short's computer and checking phone and credit card records in an attempt to figure out what he was doing and what he was thinking in the days and weeks before this attack. >> we did seize significant evidence at the residence. we are analyzing and will analyze. it's a very pain-staking process. >> a spokesman says the shooter took classes at community college when he was 16 years old. apparently did well. an intelligent young man by all accounts. on friday, something went very wrong in his head. police say he murdered his mother while she was in bed in her pajamas, t

>>> i'm tamron hall. the final good-byes for two more young victims as students around newtown return to school for the first time since friday's massacre. the june ral of 6-year-old jessica ricos began two hours ago. she loved horses, watching them on tv, reading and writing about them. jessica's parents refer to her as the little ceo because she said she liked to plan everything. family and friends of 6-year-old james matioli are saying final good-bye. james' family says he was energetic and woke up every morning ready to go to school. the parents call them their beloved prince and describe the 6-year-old as a numbers guy who was wise beyond his years. and wakes are held today for 6-year-old danielle barton, budding athlete. he loved to swim and play soccer. charlotte bacon, 6 years old, remembered as a go getter. and for her strong personality. also, victoria soto, 27-year-old teacher who officials say died while protecting her students. and we're also getting new information this afternoon on the guns adam lanza used in the attack and when at least one of them was purchased

failed to provide enough security security in bengahzi, first the latest on newtown, connecticut. this morning president obama is expected to announce that vice president joe biden will spearhead his administration's response to the newtown shooting. the president is not expected to go into detail on policy decisions, but yesterday the white house hinted at what new legislation might look like. >> he is actively supportive of, for example, senator feinstein's stated intent to revive a piece of legislation that would reinstate the assault weapons ban. he supports and would support legislation that addresses the problem of the so-called gun show loophole. and there are other elements of gun legislation that he could support. people talked about high-capacity ammunition clips for example. that's something that certainly he would be interested in looking at. >> the national rifle association has broken its silence issuing a statement reading in part "the nra is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to make sure this never happens again." the organization has planned what it describes

it calls a watershed event. this as major sporting goods stores near newtown temporarily pull all guns from the store. the backlash beyond a call for reasonable, sensible gun control. >>> our nbc colleagues are rescued after being kidnapped in syria and held for five days. >>> amber started north carolina-based footsteps clothing which had a booming christmas theme pajama line. they added other holidays and eventually expanded to products that celebrate family life. for more, watch "your business." >>> we have some good news to report today regarding the nbc colleagues. chief foreign correspondent richard engel and his team were freed from captors in syria this morning after being held hostage for five days. the three men were freed by rebels after firefight at a check point and are now safely out of the country. they appeared on the "today" show this morning describing the frightening ordeal. >> we were with some gunmen, some rebels who were escorted us. they executed one of them on the spot. then they took us to a series of safehouses and interrogation places. and they kept us b

control needs to expand. >>> today we touched on three of the issues connected to the newtown tragedy, guns, a culture of violence, and mental hale, but despite those good efforts to take a comprehensive look at the problem, the national policy conversation inevitably reverts back to one issue, gun control, and that conversation is always the same. the left pushes, the right resists. that conversation isn't working. here is why. if you truly believe that guns are the problem, then the only intellectually honest argument is to eliminate them all. focusing only on assault weapons is a cop out. in 2010 a mere 2.8% of homicides were committed withen assault weapon while 42.6% were committed with a handgun and during the ten-year federal ban on assault weapons numerous mass shootings, including columbine, still took place. making it harder to obtain a gun is also confusing the issue. adam lanza stole the guns from his mother. gun control advocates should want her guns and all guns banned. would-be murderers don't respect those artificial boundaries. but aside from the constitutional imposs

investigation into the newtown shootings. and we have new details tonight on the suspected gunman. what we have been learning from his autopsy, from an autopsy of his brain and from a close friend. >>> plus, the hero teacher, vicky soto. what she did for her kids. >>> later, in the face of horror, citizens around the world have come together to make a difference. let's go "outfront." >>> good evening, everyone. i'm erin burnett in newtown, connecticut. "outfront" searching for answers. that's what we've all been doing, trying to understand how this happened and why it happened. investigators in connecticut returned to the home of the gunman. the suspected gunman, 20-year-old adam lanza, searching for evidence. so far, authorities have been unable to retrieve any information from his computer, which was found smashed to pieces in the house he lived in with his mother, nancy. now, investigators have been trying to piece together an explanation for the crucial why, why did he do this, why did he shoot and kill his mother, why did he go to school -- a school that he had no link to and shoot 20

the latest on the investigation. >> reporter: when students returned to school in newtown this morning, there was a police presence and there were grief counselors. meantime, the parents of 6-year- old jessica rekos prepared to bury her. the mourning continues in newtown, connecticut. today, another young victim will be laid to rest. on monday, mourners said a final good-bye to 6-year-old jack pinto. >> it was very sad. very sad. family took it very, you know, as hard as any parent would take it losing their first grader. >> reporter: a large crowd showed up to say good-bye to 6- year-old noah pozner. >> i started to cry. this is very close to home. >> reporter: students in the area head back to school tuesday except for sandy hook elementary students. monday, supplies and equipment were moved to a school in a neighboring town where sandy hook students will eventually return to class. >> we really need to lead with love and that's what i'm seeing our community do. we're putting our arms around people. >> reporter: it's still unknown why the 20-year-old gunman opened fire at the

around the world in 15 minutes. our coverage of the newtown, connecticut shooting continues right now. >>> good morning, everyone. i'm john berman. >> i'm kate bolduan. we want to well koom viewers from the united states and those joining us from around the world this morning. you're watching our special coverage of the connecticut school shooting here in newtown. we're live in newtown, connecticut. >> here in newtown the president will be coming later today. he's expected to meet with some of the victims of the families and he will speak at a vigil tonight remembering the victims. president obama spoke about the hea heartbreak hours after the shooting on friday and again during his weekly address yesterday. now, of course, we have the names of all the victims in this shooting. there were 20 children, all of them were just 6 or 7 years old. there's been a fund set up to help the families of the victims. here's the address if you'd like to send a donation, the sandy hook school support fund, 39 main street in newtown, the zip code is 06470. >> meanwhile, investigators here in newtown a

the elementary school massacre in newtown, connecticut. herse hearses are making their way through the town today. vice president biden is meeting in the next hour with law enforcement representatives as well as cabinet members. what he's doing is leading the president's effort to come up with new proposals to reduce gun violence. also today attorney general eric holder, he is meeting with law enforcement officials and first responders in newtown. we have learned new information about the gunman's mother. friends say that nancy lanza went on vacation alone at a resort in new hampshire days before the shooting. she checked out last thursday afternoon. her son killed her and went on his murderous rampage friday morning. we've also been able to piece together details about the gunman, adam lanza's mother nan nancy. haven't heard much from the father. mary snow is taking a closer look at a strange relationship between the father and son. >> his home is less than hour away from where his son adam oepd fire in sandy hook elementary school, but a person that knows him says he hadn't had c

events in newtown, connecticut. they think this was already in the works before the massacre of 26 people at sandy hook elementary. however, the uneasy tensions that many are feeling as a result of sandy hook may have contributed to the authorities being tipped off by the students. >> it may have helped, because there is a heightened awareness and sensitivity to it. >> reporter: back out live here, authorities say they have been in communication with this teen's parents. those parents, according to authorities, said that they did believe that their son actually had access to some weapons therefore making this threat that much more credible, guys. but no weapons, according to police, ever made it here on campus. so that's certainly some good news here. what is still a mystery tonight is what could have caused this teen to plan out such an attack. we'll find out in the days to come. ken molestina, 9 news. >>> now to the latest on the tragedy in newtown. today, the town buried two more little children. the first funeral was for 6 year-old james who was remembered for his love of sport

virginia tech in newtown, connecticut, 50 miles southwest of connecticut state capital, and 60 miles from our studio in new york city. cops identified the shooter as 24-year-old man, ryan lanza. police say at 9:30 they received an emergency call from the school right after the school, or around the town the school usually looks the doors. the killer, dressed in mock military gear, armed with two guns as he opened fire inside the school. his victims? teachers and children. >> we spotted the troopers and the newtown police entered the school and me began a complete active shooter seven including checking every door and every crack and every portion of the school. our objective was to evacuate as quickly as possible. >> officials have not confirmed the number of dead saying that they are in the process of notifying families. the officials said the shooter died inside the school. it is unclear if he took his own life or if police killed him. there are reports that the man's mother was found dead and investigators are questioning a second person. this is a developing story. jonathan hunt

. >> good morning, everybody. it's now been five days since the heartbreaking tragedy in newtown, connecticut. three days since we gathered as a nation to pray for the victims, and today a few more of the 20 small children and six educators who were taken from us will be laid to rest. we may never know all the reasons why this tragedy happened. we do know that every day ameri violence. we know such violence has terrible consequences for our society. and if there's even one thing that we can do to prevent any of these events, we have a deep obligation, all of us, to try. over these past five days, the discussion has reemerged as to what we might do, not only to deter mass shootings in the future, but to reduce the epidemic of gun violence that plagues this country every single day. and it's encouraging that people of all different backgrounds and beliefs and political persuasions have been willing to challenge and mold assumptions and change long-standing positions. that conversation has to continue. but this time the words need to lead to action. we know this is a complexed issue

newtown in a few hours and meet with the victims' families and will speak at an interfaith vigil at 7:00 p.m. eastern. joining me now, two connecticut lawmakers richard bloomenle that and congressman and senator-elect chris murphy whose district includes newtown. let me start with the past couple days for you all. i know you have talked to some of these families who understandably don't want to be out in public except for when they choose to. we did see one father go out. can you tell us as silly as this may seem how are they holding up? what's sustaining them at this point? >> i don't think that one word or one sentence or one description will fit all of them. they are as diverse probably as they are human beings. i can tell you this community has demonstrated its strength and resilience and resolve in coming together. we were at church service this morning, which was so moving in its statement of grief but also coming together and bonding and staying strong. i don't think i will ever forget the cries of grief and pain that i saw at the firehouse on that day and as a parent, as a person

doctor about tamiflu. prescription for flu. >>> we are back live in newtown, connecticut. and students in the school district here are going back to class today, all except for the kids at sandy hook elementary. for the next few days, they'll continue to bury their classmates and teachers. now, we are going to go live to john boehner who just came out of a meeting with his caucus. >> what we've offered meets the 26 of balance, but the president is not very there. white house offered yesterday essentially $1.3 trillion in new revenues for only $850 billion in net spending reductions. that's not balanced. in my opinion. so at the same time, we're going to continue to talk with the president, we're going to also move plan "b." i think we all know that every income tax filer in america is going to pay higher rates come january 1st until congress acts. so i believe it's important that we protect as many american taxpayers as we can. and our plan "b," would protect the american taxpayers who make $1 million or less and have all of their current rates extended. i continue to have hop

webster-- already at half-staff for the newtown victims-- will now stay lowered for michael chip writtenny, 43, who was also a police lieutenant in webster. and tomasz koczowka, who was in his early 20s and a full time 911 dispatcher. >> you know, people get up in the middle of the night to put out fires, they don't expect to be shot and killed. >> reporter: the two wounded firefighters are in guarded condition, expected to live, though one has a bullet lodged in his spine. >> you guys all know each other. how hard is this? >> it's very difficult -- it's a very difficult situation. >> reporter: the gunman killed himself as police surrounded his position. he was found with several webs, including one rifle. joanne nania is among the many people in webster tonight clutching each other tight. >> they're always there for you know? you take them for granted. you don't know -- oh, i'm sorry, i just -- it's just -- it's christmas! i mean, who targets people on christmas? >> glor: a fifth man was also r: ared, an off duty policeman driving to work. work. struck by shrapnel but snaged to

cabinet about ways the country can respond to the tragedy in newtown. >> woodruff: we devote the rest of the program tonight to the shootings in connecticut with the tough policy decisions ahead for lawmakers; the grieving in newtown; the questions and answers for teachers and students; plus, a special honor roll remembering those murdered. but first, the other news of the day. here's kwame holman. >> holman: a car bomb exploded outside a compound used by a u.s. construction company in kabul, afghanistan, today. the firm builds facilities for the u.s. military. two afghan workers were killed, and more than a dozen others were wounded. the taliban claimed responsibility. and in the east, villagers held funerals for nine young girls who died in an explosion in nangarhar province. police said they may have triggered a land mine left over from the time of the soviet invasion. meanwhile, in northwest pakistan, a car bomb in a crowded market killed 17 people and wounded more than 40. the blast left a scene of scorched wreckage. in syria, the vice president now is warning that neither side w

, everyone, our coverage continues now. >> mourners here in the shattered newtown, connecticut town of 27,000 held the first two funerals for the young victims on friday's school massacre. the first of 20 funerals for children. after the worst grade school massacre our country has ever seen. i am bill hemmer here for shepard smith. the vigils and memorials are hemmed for the 26 people for those who died at sandy hook elementary school. president obama consoled the families and survivors telling a weeping crowd that he will use all the powers his office can bear to keep something like this from happening once again. >> the investigation continues. the tight knit community and everyone across the country trying to understand the "why." why a 20-year-old young man who was smart enough to take college courses at the age of 16 could commit such a heinous crime? why a well-to-do mother would have a collection of heavy duty weapons which police say her son used to shoot her in the head, four times, that morning, in her pajamas before he took the same guns to the school to kill innocent childr

want today, newtown, connecticut was saying good-bye to more of the women and children they lost. he will join us with the reaction he heard tonight in newtown, to wayne lapierre's speech. that is next. ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] everyone deserves the gift of all day pain relief. this season, discover aleve. all day pain relief with just two pills. >>> politicians pass laws for gun-free school zones. they issue press releases bragging about them. they post signs, advertising them. and in doing so they tell every insane killer in america that schools are the safest place to inflict maximum mayhem, with minimum risk. >> today, during the nra's stunt in front of the cameras in washington, in newtown, connecticut, there were five more funerals and one memorial service for the victims of the massacre at sandy hook elementary school. 7-year-old student grace audrey mcdonnell, 6-year-old student olivia rose engel, therapist, rachel davino, 7-year-old student, grace gay, and 6-year-old student, christopher dylan jack hockley. they were all remembered today. joining me now is connecticut'

the rights of mass murderers to use any kind of weapon they want today, newtown, connecticut was saying good-bye to more of the women and children they lost. he will join us with the reaction he heard tonight in newtown, to wayne lapierre's speech. that is next. tter. so now i can be in the scene. advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. if you're still having difficulty breathing, ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. get your first full prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd.com. sunni, shiit . >>> pol

should move beyond dialogue. we need answers. >> reporter: newtown united is calling for better gun control. it plans to send a delegation to washington on tuesday. >> we have the benefit and the miss fortune of being on -- misfortune of being on the national stage right now. this is a real opportunity for us to make a statement. >> reporter: schools will reopen tuesday but sandy hook elementary will be closed till further notice. >> one of the victims in the newtown shooting spree has a daughter that attends georgetown university. katie sherlach is a ph.d. candidate in chemistry. her mom was the school psychologist at sandy hook elementary and one of the heroes who tried to stop the gunman. they have lunched a fund raising campaign with the goal of collecting at least $5,000 for the sherlach family. >>> advocates for gun control are hoping that the actions of newtown is enough to spark debate. >> reporter: i'm kristin fish other capitol hill where today about 200 people marched to the nra headquarters with this message. >> let's stop all the assault weapons. >> i'm here because i'm

time today. appreciate it. >> thank you. >> turning now to the tragedy in newtown as more victims are being laid to rest today, plans are already being drawn up for the next congress to ban assault weapons. joining us now is democratic congressman of kentucky who announced this week, he will co-sponsor such legislation. representative, thank you for being with us and you said this week, you are willing to lose your seat over your position on gun control. what was your response on to the nra news conference that we saw just yesterday? >> well, richard, i thought it was stunningly insense i hativet is how i felt. the idea that the only approach to gun violence is gun fights is just not the way this country should, i think see itself. i know most americans don't see the wild, wild with west returning to the united states. but that is what they suggested. and the idea that they were making meaningful -- meaningful contributions, the only meaningful contribution i saw was to the gun manufacturers by way of free advertising. you know, they do what they have been doing a long time. that is c

>>> on the broadcast tonight, break silence. for the first time since the tragedy in newtown the nra speaks out as momentum now grows across the country to do something about guns. >>> held hostage. our own richard engel and his crew set free after being kidnapped for five days inside syria. tonight we'll hear from richard about what happened and how they made it out. >>> is there a deal in sight on that so-called fiscal cliff? that may hinge on how both sides define "rich." >>> and making a difference. it started as a simple idea. just being kind. tonight ann curry reports on the overwhelming response now being felt around the world. "nightly news" begins now. 6 captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> four days since the tragedy that altered our entire country, the gun lobby has spoken its first words on the subject. 9 national rifle association, routine teenl referred to as the most powerful lobbying in the country have been silent out of respect for the victims after one man took 28 lives including his own, 20 little school children in newtown, connecticut. along wit

>>> the president is ow with a plan to prevent another newtown and residents have a plan of their own. rob cox will show us how they are working to honor the littlest angels. >> speaker boehner lays down the gauntlet. why am i worried it's not a lump of coal. >> a chilly reception on benghazi sending in an icy blast at the state department. is it more than hillary can handle? >> no holiday break for president obama, but words from a president past could offer a new path forward. the lbj connection. >> white house history is my favorite. all that and my spoken word on why another past president had reason for holiday cheer. grab some cocoa. you are in the cycle. >> if you thought the fiscal cliff was a joke, listen to this, john boehner just 45 minutes ago. >> republicans ton to work towards avoiding the fiscal cliff. the president's offer of $1.3 trillion in revenues and $850 billion in spending reductions fails to meet the tests that the president promised the american people a balanced approach. i hope that the president will get serious soon about providing and working with us

low, trying to exploit the newtown tragedy. this time, it has nothing to do with gun control. we will play that tape as "hannity" continues. i'm doing my own sleep study. advil pm® or tylenol pm. the advil pm® guy is spending less time lying awake with annoying aches and pains and more time asleep. advil pm®. the difference is a better night's sleep. with annoying aches and pains and more time asleep. let'for an idea.s - a grand idea called america. the idea that if you work hard, if you have a dream, if you work with your neighbors... you can do most anything. this led to other ideas like lerty and rock 'n' roll. to free markets, free enterprise, and free refills. it put a man on the moon and a phone in your pocket. our country's gone through a lot over the centuries and a half. but this idea isn't fragile. when times get tough, it rallies us as one. every day, more people believe in the american idea and when they do, the dream comes true. we're grateful to be a part of it. they see more than themselves. look in the mirror, so we celebrate our year-end with the "share the love" e

: scenes from a big new movie involving tom cruise reedited because the massacre in newtown, connecticut. also, dennis miller running wild tonight. caution, you where to enter the no spin zone, the factor begins right now. hi i'm bill o'reilly. thanks for watching us tonight. we will get to president obama and gun control in a melt. first, the talking talking points memo why isn't the president trying to secure the release of marine corps patrol john hammar? that is the subject of this evening's talking points memo. in the middle of the civil war, president abraham lincoln still took time to right wrongs brought to his attention. regular folks could go to the white house and hand petitions to the president's staff. mr. lincoln would then read some of them, turn the letters over and write comments that might help individual americans. abraham lincoln did that every week. now we have a situation where a former marine, 27-year-old john hammar has been in a mexican prison since last august for absolutely nothing. nothing. as we have reported, corporal hammar secured permission f

debate that dominated the sunday morning talk shows. >> newtown. >> newtown. >> newtown. >> newtown. >> how many more? >> reporter: performers and artists now joining with 800 mayors calling for a plan to end gun violence. but wayne lapierre, the chief executive officer and public face of the national rifle association, made clear on nbc's "meet the press" that his organization will oppose legislation adding new restrictions to the sale of weapons or high-capacity ammunition magazines. >> look, i know there's a media machine in this country that wants to blame guns every time something happens. i know there's an anti-second amendment industry in this town. i know there are political elites that for 20 years always try to say it's because of american-owned guns. i'm telling what you think will make people safe. what every mom and dad will make them feel better, when they drop their kid off at school in january is if we have a police officer in that school, a good guy. >> reporter: as the last of the newtown massacre victims are laid to rest, the nra has taken the position that armed

this newtown return to class as funerals continue for those killed in the sandy massacre. >> here's what people are talking about. classes resumed today for most students in newtown connecticut for the first time since friday's massacre. all schools reopened except for sandy hook elementary. complete coverage begins with randall pinkston reporting for wjz. >>> a bus carrying students drove up to the high school in newtown connecticut as a grief stricken town to tried to get back to some sort of routine. the bus had a ribbon on it. police were on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly. >> i wouldn't send my children to school if i had the choice rite right now. i wouldn't. >> i think it's important that the children do go back to school. >> all schools except sandy hook elementary are open. the scene of the massacre will remain closed for months. when those children go back they will attend a school in a nearby town. people lit candles to remember the lives cut short. they paid their respects at the memorial set up for the 26 victims. >> the grieving process continues here in newt

night say what happened on friday in newtown, connecticut, is just part of living in the free society of america. chuck todd is nbc's chief white house correspondent and political director, and chris cillizza is managing editor of postpolitics.com. gentlemen, i know we all saw this. this is what we used to call the topic sentence. i think this was the most telling, action-oriented piece of what the president said last night up in connecticut. let's listen to it now. >> in the coming weeks, i will use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this. because what choice do we have? we can't accept events like this as routine. are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage? that the politics are too hard? are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom? >> chuck todd, you know, gun control was probably not in many politicians' son

>> reporter: newtown is slowly trying to return to normal. some schools other than sandy hook reopened for the first time since the shooting. buses carrying children drove onto school grounds. the buses had green and white ribbons on the front, sandy hook's colors. but police kept one elementary school closed as a precaution after receiving threats. >> i will always be worried but now it's very, very bad. >> reporter: children at sandy hook have not yet returned to school. when they do, it will be at a school in the nearby town of monroe. late today the nra released its first public reaction to last week's shooting saying its members are shocked, saddened and heartbroken about the horrific senseless murders in newtown. the organization says it stands ready to make meaningful contributions to make sure it doesn't happen again. reporting live in newtown, connecticut, i'm randall pinkston. back to you. >> thank you. >>> meantime, new calls for gun control laws on capitol hill today. those injured in mass shootings and families of victims were in washington, d.c. to press lawmaker

wanted for a crime committed in neighboring sunnyvale. ed. >>> in the wake of the tragedy in newtown, president obama is demanding immediate and specific strategies to curb gun violence. and he is promising that this time washington won't just talk about it. cbs 5 reporter grace lee on his call to action. >> reporter: it is a promise and says it's divergence for this president. before the connecticut school shooting he was usually generally neutral about anything related to the second amendment. today he not only called for action, he even gave a deadline for results and he wants some answers by january. >> we may never know all the reasons why this tragedy happened. we do know that every day since, more americans have died of gun violence. >> reporter: five days after the sandy hook shooting in newtown, president obama says our country needs more than gun control. we need a solution to stop the violence. that's why he is creating a new interagency task force led by vice president joe biden. >> this is not some washington commission. this is not something where folks are going to be

foreman. >> hey, randi, nra officials were quiet in the days following the newtown, connecticut, shooting, giving people time to mourn. now they are speaking up and they have a lot to say. despite protesters, the president and public opinion increasingly pushing against the gun lobby, the national rifle association sent a sharp message to its leader, wayne lapierre, no retreat. >> the only thing that stops a bad guy with an a gun is a good guy with a gun. i call on congress today to act immediately to appropriate whatever is necessary to put armed police officers in every single school in this nation. >> reporter: in a wide-ranging statement, lapierre condemned the violence in connecticut, colorado and other places, but steered the conversation away from guns and gun law. indeed he lambasted officials who want to restrict guns from schools. >> in doing so they tell every insane killer in america that schools are the safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk. >> the nra has blood on its hands. >> reporter: despite twice being interrupted by protesters, lapierre wen

sreenivasan reports from newtown on a community in mourning. >> woodruff: and as parents around the country nervously dropped their children off at school today, jeffrey brown talks to a psychiatrist and a school psychologist about what to say and not to say in times of crisis. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> and by the alfred p. sloan foundation. supporting science, technology, and improved economic performance and financial literacy in the 21st century. >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and friends of the newshour. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: a holiday season that should have been alive with the joy of children is now, instead, a season of mourning their loss in newtown, connecticut. the first of the funerals took place today for the victims of the massacre at an el

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: the funerals began today in newtown, connecticut, with the burials of two six-year old boys murdered on friday. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. most of tonight's newshour will focus on the shootings and their aftermath. ray suarez has the latest on the investigation and the reaction in connecticut and beyond. >> ifill: we talk with california senator dianne feinstein, who hopes to revive a law banning assault weapons. >> they aren't hunting weapons. you don't need them for defense. they are military-style weapons and they don't belong in the streets of our city. >> woodruff: we assess the public policy questions raised by the shooting about access to guns, mental health issues, and more. >> ifill: hari sreenivasan reports from newtown on a community in mourning. >> woodruff: and as parents around the country nervously dropped their children off at school today, jeffrey brown talks to a psychiatrist and a school psychologist about what to say and not to say in times of crisis. >> ifill:

newtown return to class for the first time since the gunman devastated the community as families hold more funerals. a live report coming from newtown in a moment and cops in northern illinois issuing warrants for 20 frat brothers after they say a pledge turned up dead after a booze-fueled hazing ritual. and a new warning on grapefruit with a growing list of medications that will screw everything up. that is all ahead unless breaking news changes everything. on "studio b." but, first, from fox at 3:00 in new york city the kids run to class at most schools across newtown, cut, but sandy hook elementary school is an active crime scene and could stay closed for months. the town is coming to grips with the shooting massacre. school buss are back in the streets decorated with green and white ribbons, the sandy hook elementary school colors. today, family and friends attended funerals for two more 60 year olds. many more services are planned for the days ahead as families grieve the losses of 20 kids and six adults who died before the gunman killed himself. it could take longer for the town

public trust can summon one tiny iota that those teachers in newtown summoned on friday. if cooperation and common sense prevail, then i'm convinced we can make a sensible and intelligent way to make the united states of america a safer, stronger place for our children to learn and to grow. >> eliot: the president focused specifically on three proposals that appeared to have significant and growing support closing the gun show loophole so that background check is required and banning assault weapons and ammunition clips. he was then asked why it didn't happen in the first team. >> this is not the first prolific gun violence of your four years. where have you been? >> here's where i've been, jake. i've been president of the united states in an economic crisis since the great depression. two wars, i don't think i've been on vacation. so you know, i think all of us have to do some reflexion on how we prioritize what we do here in washington. >> eliot: for more i'm joining by michael tomaski thank you for joining us. >> always a pleasure, eliot. >> eliot: so did the president put jake tappe

. >>> will the response to newtown be different if the shooter was not white? >>> one movie uniting both sides of the political aisle but why senators are speaking out against "zero dark 30." >>> take a page from the '80s rem song -- ♪ it could be the end of the world as we know it ♪ and some people are getting ready for the worst. >> i'm not planning on the world going away. that sucks. however, i'm a realist. i'm not going to put my head in the sand. >> oh, geez, not everyone is buying into that mayan prophecy. most everyone is not. some people are profiting from it, though. "newsroom" starts now. good morning to you. thank you for being with us. i'm coral costello. in f your holiday plans include traveling through the part of the country, buckle up. blizzard warnings from iowa to wisconsin, the massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow in the rockies and for the eastern half of the country be warned. it is heading your way. winter starts tomorrow but in the heartland it's already arrived with a vengeance. blizzard conditions already pounding parts of the plains and midwest. th

the secondary scene location in newtown has been positively identified as nancy lanza. birth date september 6th, 1960. mer cause of death multiple gun shot wounds and the death has been ruled a homicide. >> then dressed ninja style he took four heavy weapons probable stash of heavy weapons and headed to the local elementary school to ignite his personal holocaust. >> the male subject identified as the shooter of sandy hook elementary school has been positively identified as adam lanza. he resided at that residence. >> i am geraldo rivera report live on the day the president of the united states came to comfort this stricken connecticut community ravrageed by the unprecedented slaughter the state police spokesman confirmed whenever adam lanza's motives the troubled 20-year-old blasted his way into the school intending to butcher as many children as he could. >> the weapons that was utilized most of the time during this horrific crime was identified as the bushmaster ar 15 assault type weapon it had high capacity magazines and in addition the subject had a glock 10 millimeter all we

newtown remember what happened one week ago today. only rain drops heard during this moment. firefighters there in newtown, paying tribute to 20 young children, 6, 7 years of age and seven adults gunned down for reasons we may never know. the reflections began at 9:30 a.m. eastern time, that is the precise time that first call came in. at least 29 states held a moment of silence, put flags at half-staff, even parts of the internet went silent this morning. video gamers put down their consoles in unity and bells across connecticut state sounded for each killed at sandy hook elementary. [ bells tolling ] >> at the episcopal church in newtown, 28 tolls rang for each life lost. 28. that includes the shooter. when the bells were still, the remembrances began. one was just inside the capital building there in connecticut. ♪ amaze iing grace how sweet the sound ♪ ♪ that save d a wretch like me ♪ ♪ i once was lost but now i'm found ♪ ♪ was blind but now i see ♪ >> a time of great sorrow, great unity, saw it in newtown myself this week. i want to go to my colleague po